Condition of Work in Ethiopia: Employment Relationship, Health and Safety Analysis: Challenges and Prospects, the Case of Building Construction Workers

The terms under which people are employed and the conditions, under which they work as well as the availability of jobs in the market, can affect the achievement of social objectives such as the alleviation of poverty, promotion of economic and social security. This is because any unsafe working environment affecting the life of a worker, in whatever form, is costly to both the family and the nation as whole. Condition of work of construction workers in Ethiopia is found to be poor. This is mainly due to the poor employment relationships and lack of safety measures. Safety measures are non existent in the construction sites; therefore, workers are exposed to different kinds of work related hazards. Most of the injured workers did not receive compensation because of triangular employment arrangements between the building contractors, sub-contractors and sub-sub contractors which obscure lines of liability. The Author of this book believes that this information can be used as a ground for further studies and intervention programs on the area of condition of work in construction and other industries of Ethiopia to promote the labor relations and to foster safety at work.